Elevator door



April 22, 1924.

R.S.PEELLE ELEVATOR DOOR File DB 13. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 22,1924.

R. S. PEELLE ELEVATOR DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D80. 13. 1922 22 .9. H10. 5mm

Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

nsiran sta r new ROBERT S. PEELLE, F HOLLIS, NEKV YO'R-K, 55., ASSIGNORTO PEELLE COM- PANY, OFBROOKLYN, NEE YORK, A CGRFG'EATION (1)15 NEWYORK.

nnevaron noon.

Application-filed December 13, 1822. Serial No. 606,722.

To all whom it may concern citizen of the United States, residing atHollis, in the borough of Queens, city of 5 New York, county ot'Queens,and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Elevator Doors, of which the following is a spec fication,referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof.

My invention relates to elevator doors, and

more particularly to an elevator door of the pass type wherein the railstructure and the co-operating guide shoes upon the door sections are'soconstructed and arranged as to permit each door section to have ahorizontal component of movement away from the wall of the shaft duringits vertical opening movement, and towards-the wall of the shaft duringits vertical closing movement, no part of the rail structure-having anymovement in introducing this horizontal component of movement during thevertical movement of the door sections, andothe guide 5 shoes carried-bythe door having no"movenient independently of the door sections carryingsame. 7 a v In a door embodying my invention, I employ upon the oppositesidebars of the frame of each section of each door, a pluralitv of guideshoes. one ofthe shoes upon each section moving upona rail sectionindependent of that upon which the'other shoe has inoven'icnt, said railsections being so con-- structed and arranged as to permit the desiredvertical movement of ea'ch doorsection and to impart the; desiredhorizontal compo nent of movement thereto during a portion.

of this vertical movement, so that a door sec'-.

tion, during its opening movement,may pass,

or lap, a door section at an adjoining door opening, which last nameddoor section is in, the closed positlon. F Each of the sections of Yeach door 1n its opening movement must cross the plane of movement of asection of a door at an adjacent door opening, thus hecessitating thepresence ofgaps between dir":

terent guide rail sections. suitable guiding or switch mechanisms beingprovidedfor directing the shoes of the'door sections cooperating withthe' diflerent rail sections adajacent such gaps.

The guide rail structure adjacent-each door opening in ashaft is likethat at the and also witha door section at adjacent door. openings, aportionof this Be it known that I, Bonn-n1 S PnnLLn, a'

rail structure co-operating solely] with the door section atthe openingadjacent thereto,

movement along a guidc rail section entirely independent of the guicerail section for the other shoe on'thesa'me side of said section,

thus precluding the use; o'fthe guide rail sec tionvrfor the lower doorsection at one door the opening below, which upper section in passingthe lower section of the door above must, asto its shoes located adjacentthe lintel of thatdoo'r, movealong its own guide rail section to apoint above the sill of the door opening immediately above.

The guiderail section for the shoe adjacent the lower edge of the upperdoor sec-' tion of a door may, however, co-operate with the lower guide"shoe of the lower door'section of the door immediately. above.

Hence, it will be observed that the'guide rail sectionsadjacent eachdooropening are so constructed and arranged as to co-operate with thedoors at that opening as well as the door sections at the openings aboveand below same, one section init's use being .re-

while other portions co-operate solely with V a door section at anadjacent door opening, a

opening for the upper section of the door at strictedto coeopera'tewith; one door section V at the opening with which it is associated andwith the-other doorsection at that open ed 'in its use to co-op'eratewith a door section at an adj acent. opening ;v while still anothersection co-operates with a door section at the opening adj scent-whichit is located an adjacent opening. 7 V

In an elevator door embodyingmy invention, the arrangement of the guiderail sections and of the shoes cooperating-therewith carried by one doorsection, is such that at least one shoe of each door section isconstantly engaged with a continuousguide rail,

and" in its movementis-not required to cross any gaps,while the othershoe upon that section is so.-constructed-that while it must cross gap,some portion thereof while crossing such gap willbe engaged with a guiderail or a switch mechanism atgeach end of the ing and alsowith adoorsection at an adja- 1 cent opening; another section being restr ctandsomegpart of the guiding means of the guide rail structure.

The construction and arrangement of parts of a door embodying myinvention is such that there is no relativemovement of any of the partsof the guide rail structure, and

, the co-operating guide shoes, excepting the sliding movement of thelatter with their door sections, thus eliminating substantially allnoise beyond that incidental to any -elevator door employing verticallyand oppositely, movable sections; minimizing likelihood of a-loss ofadjustment of parts such as may occur by the jamming of movable parts,when such are used; and freduc'ing'the i amount of attention required tokeep a door installation in operating condition to a mere occasionalgreasing of the rails and oiling of il l) 'moy'ementfthereto during"portionbf such vertical movement, a e v top of 'the'lowergand adgacentthe 'b'ottom' of the pulleys or sheaves, such as-is commonly requiredwith'all elevator doors.

The rail structure throughout may be readily assembled :in the shop, allof the parts being standardized.

A door embodying 'my invention lends self readily to those structuralcharacteristics which permitthe stoppage of the lower door section withits reinforced top bar substantially flush with; the sill 'of the dooropening, or to the so called truckablefeaturc.

While primarily the door'is designed for use in elevator shafts inwhichjthe distances between'the lintel of one door opening and the sillof the door'opening ii'nmediately above is insufiicient to accommodatethe upper door section in this'space, it, neverthe less. is apparentthat'this structure may be readily applied to any shaft'irrespective ofthe spacing of the door openings, and thus avoid the necessity of givingany particular attention to the requirements of the elevator doorinstallation when'planning the door openings'in a shaft. At the sametime a construction embodying my'invention will obviate thoseditficulties arising from varying distances between the lintels andsillsof different door openings, a characteristic. however, which is commonto alldoors of the pass type. v

My invention consists primarily in "anelevator door embodying thereinupper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections a rail structure on eachside" of the openings in an elevator 'shaft including 'therein arailsection terminating adj ac'ent-" the sill Y and lintel of each dooropening; adapted to 'per-' "mit vertical movement of said do'orsectionsand i'm'p'art a horizontal component of s oe' adjacent" the the upper,door section co-operating therewith, a second guide shoe adjacent thetop of said upper, and the bottom of said lower, door section, a railsection extending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintelof an adjacent, door opening, and cooperating with the second guide shoeon one door section to permit vertical movement of said door section,and to impart a horizontal component of movement thereto during aportion of such vertical movement. a switch mechanism co-operating withthe second shoe on the other door section. and a guide rail sectionextending from adjacent said switch mechanism to a point intermediatethe sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening and positionedinwardlyof the shaft with relation to said other rail section; and

in such other novel features of construction and oombinationof parts, asare hereinafter set forth and described, and more pa'rticu- 'larly'pointed out in the claims hereto ap pended;

Referring to the drawings,

7 Fig. 1 is a condensed view in elevation from within an elevator shaft,showing an elevator door structure embodying my 'invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the rail structure at one side of the door opening,with a door structure consisting of two oppositely movable sectionsshown therein in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a casting form ing a part oi? the railstructure and switch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is aside view thereof:

Fig 5 is a front view of the guide shoe carried by a door section andco-operating with the switch mechanism, and a guiding rail sectionassociated with said switch 1 mechanism; 7

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the guide shoe carried by one of the doorsections;

8 is a side view thereof; and

Figs. 9and 10 are respectively side and front Views of a shoe carried byeach of the door sections adjacent the top and the bottom bar of thedoor frames respectively.

'Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

y In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, A indicatesthat wall of an At B I have In'the drawings, I have shown a portion ofthe rail structure ad acent one door openmg only, it being understoodthat this structure 'extends vertically throughout the shaft, "the" partthereof 'ad'jacent'each opening be- IOU sary only where the spacebetween floors is insufficient to receive the door or door sect-ionclosing the openings at an adjacent floor.

Fireproof freightelevator doorsare usually formed of two sectionsindicated at E and F in the drawings, so connected as to cause saidsections to move vertically in opposite directions when opening orclosing the door, the connection between the door sections, shown at Gin the drawings, pas ing over a pulley or sheave H, the axis of which isparallel to the wall of the shaft having the door opening therein.

This connection is made upon each side of a door, one end of eachconnection being secured to a bracket I adjacent the bottom bar of theframe of the upper door section, the other end of said connection beingsecured to a hanger bar J connected to the lower door section adjacentthe top bar of its frame.

This construction of door is old and well known in this art. r

The lower section F is provided with a projecting plate, indicated indotted lines at K in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which forms a part'of thetrucking feature of the door, and the section E is provided with aprojecting angular astragal L adapted to 00-.

operate with said bar K inclosing any gap along the meeting line of thetwo door sections. r

Since the means embodying the rail structure carried by the two doorsectionsisthe same upon opposite sides of each dcoropening, in'myfurther description of theinvention'I will limit myself toan explanationof the details as they exist upon one side of the door openings only, itbeing understood that this mechanism is duplicated upon the other side.In the drawings, duplicatereference letters are applied to correspondingparts upon opposite sides of the door, it bein understoodthat'particularly as to the guide shoes and switch mechanism,

the correspond-ingparts upon one side of ture instead of including acontinuous main rail, is formed of a sequence of associated units, onead acent each door opening, which units" overlap-and co-operate in amanner which will more fully appear hereinafter. Each unit may be theduplicate of every other unit so that a descriptionof but one unit willbeinecessary. To simplify the'dee scription of this unit, itrnay beconsidered as consisting of three rail vsections and'a constantly openswitch mechanism for directing a shoe moving with a door section from arail section ad acentone door openpass a closed door" ing to aco-operating rail section at the adja- 1 one flange a of which issecured to the wall i of he shaft adjacent each j amb of each dooropening and extends vertically throughout" the shaft, the other fiange'aof this angle extending-inwardly of the shaft, and having securedthereto various rail sections and switch mechanisms. '7 Y 7 One of therail sections above referred to includes therein a short vertical raillength 25 extending intermediate the sill B and lintel C for a shortdistance upon opposite sides of the'parting line of theg'two doorsections E and F when the door is in the closed position. Thissection-isso positioned as to hold the meeting edges of the doorsectionssutficiently close to the wall of the shaft when the door isclosed; Q Spaced within'the shaft away:from'said rail length 6 are tworail'lengths 0-d par-' allel therewith, one of which terminates adjacentthe sill and. the other of which adja-.

to said lengths 0 and respectively by the the lengths 0, (Z, 6- and f isadaptedto cooperate with both door sections E and F at a door opening,the rail length e being also adapted to cooperate with the'lower doorsection at the adjacent shaft opening.

The upper door section E adjacent the bottom bar of the framethereof,iis provided with a vuide shoe 9 cooperating with a portion orthe rail length 6, the oblique rail length 6 and the raii length 0,while the top of the lower door section F is provided with-a similarguide shoe hadapted to cooperate with the rail lengths b, and-d.

-Theshoe 9 preferably has oppositely disposed flang'es g and g thereonhaving a 'cent the lintel, the length 6 beingconnected ies spacebetween: same, the opposite ends of said space being dared to reduce thefrietion area of the shoe and being so formed as to afford substantiallyparallel faces 9 and 9* extending substantially vertically, so as toreadily co-operate with the vertically extending rail lengths, andparallel oblique faces g and 9 adapted to co-operate with the obliquerail sections respectively. The shoe It is of the same construction andarrangement as the shoe g, having the flanges 72, and 71,2, verticalparallel sections 7L and h, and the spaced oblique sections a and h. Therelation of these parts, however, is reversed by reason of the fact thatthe door section carrying said shoe moves in a direction opposite tothat of the section carrying the shoe 9.

A second rail section consisting of a short length 6 adjacent the sillB, a rail length 7' terminating adjacent the lintel of an adjacent dooropening, and an oblique connecting rail section 7:: connecting thesections 2' and j, is, with the rail length 0 at the adjoining dooropening, adapted to cooperate with the lower door section in guiding itin its vertical movement and imparting a horizontal component ofmovement thereto during a portion of this vertical movement. The raillength 2' is arranged on substantially the same vertical plane as therail length 7), while the rail length is on substantially the samevertical plane as the rail lengths c and d, the oblique connecting raillength being substantially parallel with the oblique rail length f.

The lower door section is provided with a guide shoe m preferablyconsisting of two parallel flanges m and m which are spaced apart adistance substantially corresponding with the width of the guide raillength i jk, the adjacent ends of these flanges lapping each otherslightly so as to afford elongated bearing surfaces while permittingoblique clearance between the two flanges sufiicient to permit thepassage of the shoe over the oblique connecting rail length 70 withouttilting action on the door. The staggered relation of the flanges m andm will ensure a continued engagement of one of these parts with the raillength j until after the other flange as m has en gaged the rail length0 at an adjacent door opening, or a part of the switch mechanism betweenthese rail lengths, which switch mechanism will be more fully referredto hereinafter.

The third rail section consists of a single rail length a, one end ofwhich terminates adjacent the lintel of one door opening and the otherend of which terminates adjacent the end of the rail length (Z at theopening above. This rail section a co-operates solely with the upperdoor section and extends substantially parallel with the rail lengths (Zand 7' but spaced therefrom inwardly of the shaft to afford clearancefor the guide shoes of the lower door section at the door opening above.The use of'the rail section a is necessitated from the fact that theupper door section in its ascent must pass the lower door section of theopening immediately above when said last named door section is in theclosed position, and because neither the rail lengths j nor (Z can beutilized for this purpose without the formation of a gap between therail lengths j and 70 to permit the upper guide shoe on the uppersection of a door at an opening below that at which the rail lengths j(Zare located, to pass from the length atone opening to the length d atthat opening. Otherwise theupper section of a door at a lower openingwould move along the oblique connecting section In, which it is apparentwould cause it to collide with the lower door section of the doorimmediately above it.

lVhen it is desired to provide independent guide rails for the differentshoes upon each door section, such a gap is undesirable at the pointindicated, particularly as a gap must be provided at a switch mechanis nsituated at a point where p the lower door section is having onlyvertical movement, and the shoe on this section being specially formedto span this gap and not adapted for the making of an oblique turn at,or during, that interval in Which the door is receiving the horizontalcomponent of movement to bring it to a vertical plane which will allowit to move inwardly of the shaft so as to pass by a closed door atanother door opening.

While the lower guide shoe 9 of the door section E co-operates with therail lengths 6, (Z and c of the rail section opposite the door opening,(and not extending materially beyond same) the upper guide shoe 0 uponthis door section does not engage the aforesaid rail lengths butco-operates solely with the rail section it and a switch mechanism 9adjacent the lintel of the door opening. This switch mechanism has thetwo fold function of engaging said shoe so as to hold the upper portionof the door close to the wall of a shaft when in the closed position,and guiding said shoe during the opening movement of the door in itsvertical movement, while imparting the desired horizontal component tosuch movement to bring the shoe engagement with the rail section a. Thisswitch mechanism must also be so constructed as to permit the passage ofthe guide shoe m from a rail length d to a rail length 0 during a solelyvertical movement, a gap indicated at 9* being provided to permit a shoe0 upon a door section E to cross the plane of movement of a shoe m upona door section F at an adjacent floor.

The shoe 0 comprises a flange 0' having a substantially flat surface at0 which in the operation of the shoe is adapted to engage tion in and acurved surface 0' adapted to engage a guide abutment of the switchmechanism. Spaced away from the flange 0 1s a second flange 0 whichextends laterally of the shoe and is provided with a curved surface 0forming a flaring opening having a cam-like surface atone side thereof,an inclined surface 0' adapted to co-operate with the switch mechanismduring the closing tened end 08 the flange 0. p

The switch mechanism includes a guide flange p adapted to be engaged bythe sur-' face 0 on the flange 0 anda curved fixed abutment 2) adaptedto co-operate with the curved surface 0* on the flange '0, the flange pand abutment p having parallel curved surfaces indicated at and prespectively, the channel between which is directedabove and across therail length a and into the'gap 5 between said rail length and the lowerend of the rail length n. Upon the other side of the gap 9 opposite theupper end of the abutment p, is a second abutment r, having a surface 7"parallel with the rails c and f and a curved surface 0? presentedtowards the end of the rail length n, and. positioned at one side of andbetween said rail to the rail length 0 without engaging the rail'n, theabutment 7' or the abutment p, which last named abutment terminates atone side of the gap between the rail lengths c and j and the wall of theshaft. a

To ensure accuracy in the formation'and the arrangement of the ends ofthe rail lengths o, y and a of the flange p the abutment p andtheabutment r, I preferably form these parts in a single casting, thuspermitting the standardization of parts,'and very much simplifying theassembling of the structure. 7 V o i The flange a of the wall angle iscut away at a substantially flush withxthe rail lengths 7), e and f soas to form a recess conforming in contour to the angular relation ofthese parts, thus permitting the hanger bar J and the brackets I to movetoward and from the wall of the shaft during'that interval when theguide shoes 9 and-h are passing along L ne rail lengthsb, e and wouldintroduceframe of eachdoor 'se'ction adjacent the flange a of thejwallangle, said fiarneangle being of a'depth to pass across the edgesof thevarious rail sections and of thetswitch mechanism, and at t a flameangle and toe guard upon'the lower doorsection'F.

Securedgto the flanges a of the wall .angles, adjacent"and below thesill ofxeac'h door opening, are stops it adaptedto be en gaged by thehanger bar. J when the door is y in the fully open position, so'as tohold the reinforced-top of this section substantially flush withthe sillB. movement of the door section, and a 'flatparallel with'the surface 0on I The operation of the herein described mechanism is'substantially'as follows When a door is in the closed position, the

of these door sections and hold this 2 between the guide flange 79 ofthe switch) mechanism andjthe flange a of'thewalh angle, the flattenedsurface 0 of the flange 0 engaging a straight portion of the flange pwhile the flat" portion 0 0f the flangeo V will engage said' walla'ngleflange, thus hold" ing the upper portion I of' 'the door s'e ctionf Eclose to the wall of the shaft and against movementinwardly of theshaft. The flanges m and m of the shoe m will engage o;

sitefaces of the short rail length i, holding the lower portion ofthedoor section F close] to the wall of the shaft. In this manner bothisectifons ofthe door when lit' -is" closed will Lbearrange d-in thesame vertical plane close to the wall of the'shaft A i; a

and present no such cracks or crevices as structure. 7 V

a fire hazard in the door F move in o osite directions one u y w'ard'lyand the other downwardly, said door sections, during a portion of theirvertical" movement, having; a horizontal component of movement to anezttent slightly greater;

thanthethickness-ofthe 'door, soasto perinit them tofpass similar doorsat theopen- 7 ings above and below thatjopening closed a by the doorbeing opened.

NVhilethe movement of the twodoor sect-H tions is similar, the means forsecuring this x movement differwith each section, so that the V movementof each door section will be described, separately, .it beingunderstood,

however, that the movements of'thediflerent Ill j 7 sectionsoccur'atsubstantially the same time. a

Referring to the lower door section F, "as

this section moves downwardly,tl1e parallel faces h jan'd hi on, theshoe h'willlpass" along 7 o the verticallyextending rail length '2)until.

At .8 I have indicated a' flame angleex 7 tending vertically of eachside bar of the the lower edge of said shoeapproaches the end surfacesIt and h ofsaid shoe will engage the oblique rail length f, the surfacek engaging the upper face of, said rail length, and thus impart thedesired horizontal component of movement to that portion of the dooruntil said inclined surface passes from the rail length 7, whereupon thesurfaces It and it? will engage and pass along the rail length d untilthe hanger bar J engages the stops it, or until the door is brought torest with the top thereof substantially flush with the sill D by saidstops or other means used in lieu thereof. 7

During the descent of the door section F, the flanges m and m of theshoe at will pass alongopposite sides of the rail'length 71 until theend of the flange m engages the upper face of the oblique rail lengthIt,

whereupon the lower portion of the section" will receive a horizontalcomponent of movement during the continued downward vertical movement,until said flange/m passes from the oblique rail length is to along theside of the rail length j whichwill be re- & ceived between the spacedparallel flanges m and m Since the flange m is positioned below theflange 912?, it will project across the gap 9 and engage one side of therail length 0 at the door opening below that by which the moving door isclosed, being positioned between the rail length 0 and the abutment p soas to prevent movement of the door toward the wall of the shaft. Thisengagement with said rail length 0 prevents t initial opening movementthereof, the shoe 9 will act in relation to the rail lengths b, e and 0in exactly the same manner'as the corresponding parts of the shoe h ofthe lower door section, so that this mode of operation need not bedescribed. 7

With the'upward movement of the door section E, the surfaces o of theflange 0' and 0 of the'flange 0 will slide along the parallel portionsof the guide flange p and the wall angle flange 0/ until the curvedsurface 0 upon the flange 0 engages the curved surface of the abutment pwhich will impart a horizontal component of movement to said doorsection E and direct the flanges 0 and 0 to a position, where they willreceive between them, the end of the rail section a. The abutment '1'will check any tendency of an excess movement of the shoe 0 inwardly ofthe shaft and ensure said shoe passing upon the rail length n.Thereafter while the shoe 9 is passing along the rail length 0, the shoe0 will pass along the rail the oppositeside of the rail eete e;

lengthmthus bringing the door section E,

inwardly of the shaft to the same eXtent'as the door section F, so thatthe upper door section E will be in a position to pass the lower doorsection F at the floor immediately above.

Whilethe rail length 4L is located within the shaft to a greater extentthan the rail length 0, the difference is merely that sufficient toaccommodate the shoe flange 0 and in a door section which is four or sixfeet in height, this distance, which is but a fractionof an inch, willhave no material effect, upon the movements of the door, as theclearancebetweenthe shoes and the rails would of necessity be sufficient toperoblique section 70 in imparting the desired horizontal movement tothe lower part of the door section F.

When passing the switch mechanism, the upper flange m will pass theabutment vand the end of therail length n before theflange m passes fromthe guide flange 12 and the abutment p, and the flan e m engaging therail length d before the angc 772 has passed from engagement with therail-length c. 7

During the ascent of the door section F, the upper'door sectionE willdescend, the shoe 0 passing along the rail length n until the inclinedplane face 0 of the guide flange 0. engages the abutment 1" whichdirects the shoe otowardthe shaft A passing the top of the rail lengthaand engaging the curved end 19 of the guide flange p substantiallysimultaneously with the engagement of theicurved surface 0* of theflange 0 with] the curvedsurface p of the abutment p.

As shown in the drawings, the end of the rail n is curved slightly andreduced to an edge to facilitate the engagement and disengagementthereof with the laterally extended flange 0 the ends of the raillengths j, cand of the guide flange p" also being roundedor reduced toan edge to minimize likelihood of the guide shoes abutting against sameand ensuring afree sliding movement between these parts and the shoeco-operating therewith.

It will be observed that the various guide flanges and abutmentsconstituting the normally open switch are not only so constructed andarranged. as to permit this switch mechanism to co-operate either withthe guide shoe m of a door section at one door opening, and the guideshoe of a door section at a door immediately below same, but that all ofthe. cooperating parts of the switch mechanism and the guide shoe occupya fixed position so as to ensure uniformity in the operation of thedoors at all times, and avoid any likelihood of a breakage ordisarrangement of parts.

The guide shoe 0 will pass transversely of the gap crossing the. planeoi the rail sections j and c, the lateral deflection of the flange 0*ensuring the'engagement of. the

movements of the shoe 0 and the portion of the door section adjacentthereto during such movements until the other flange 0' has engageabutment p I g The arrangement of parts is such that the various guideshoes are always in such engaging relation with the rail structure as toensure positive opening and closing movement of both door, sections, andthat such movement, by reason of this continued engagement, without themovement or" any parts except a free sliding. movement of the shoe withrelation to the parts of the rail structure with the movement of thedoor itself, will be practically noiseless.

By employing co'-operating curved surfaces upon the abutment p and 13upon the guide flange 39?, and upon the flanges 0 and 0 upon'the shoe 0,greater ease in the movementof thedoor endless noise is assured,although it is apparent strai ht inclined co-a-cting surfaces upon theseparts would secure the same operative 'e'ifect, but

with slight jars during the movement of. the door upon theinit1al-engagementor these parts either during their upwardor downwardmovement;

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent thatsuch maybe varied without departing fromthe spirit and scope of theinvention; I

Having described the invention, what claim as new and desire to haveprotects bv Letters Patent, is

l. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovabledoor' railistruct c on each'sideo'i openings in an elevatorshaftincluding herein a rail sect1on terminating ad acent 16 dapted' topermit vertical movement of said either the rail 11 or the fixed silland lintel of each coor opening.

door sections,-and impart a horizontal component of movement theretoduring a. portion of such vertical movement, a guide shoe adjacent thetop of the lower, and adjacent the bottom of the upper, doorsectionco-operating therewith, a second guide shoe adjacent the top of saidupper, and the bottom of said lower, door section, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill 1 of one, to adjacent the lintelof anad.- ja-cent, door opening, and co-operating. with the second guideshoeon one door section to permit vertical movement of; said doorsection, and to impart a horizontal com ponent. movement thereto during,a portion of such vertical movement, a switch mechanismco-operatmg withthe second shoeon the other door section, and a guide.

rail section extending from adjacent said switch mechanism to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of. theadjacent door, opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said otherrailsection,

2. Anelevator' door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections, a rail structure on each side ofthe openings' in anelevator shaft including therein a rail section including therein ashort rail length intermediate the S111 and hntel of a door opemng, longrail lengths lique connecting rail lengths, a guide shoe adjacent thebottomofthe upper, and adjacent the top ofthe lower, door sectioncooperating therewith, a rail section extending from adjacent the, sill01" one, toad last named rail section comprising oppo-v sitely disposedstaggered parallel flanges, having the ad acent ends'thereot lapped toconform to said last named oblique rail r I 115;

length, a switch T mechanisnrhetween the lintel of one door openingiandthesill of the opening above, second giuide .shoe uponsaid other .doorsection cooperating- "with said switch mechanism, and a guide railsection extending from 1 adjacent said opening and positioned inwardlyof;the shaft with tions. j I H 3. An. elevator door embodyingthereinparallel therewith positioned inwardly of. the shaft with relationthereto, a-nd obswitch*mechanisi n toa point- .interm ediate] the silland'lintel .oi the ad acentdoor relation to saidiother rail sec? 1 upperand lower oppositely novabledoor. sections, a rail structure on eachside of the; openings in an elevator shaft 'including therein a railsection including, there in a short rail length intermediate the silland lintel of a door opening, long rail lengths parallel therewithpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation thereto, and obliqueconnecting rail lengths, a guide shoe on one of said sections comprisingspaced flanges having parallel faces adapted to co-operate with theparallel rail lengths, and parallel oblique faces adapted to cos operatewith the oblique connecting rail length, a switch 1 echanism between thelintel of one door opening and the sill of an adjacent opening, a guiderail section e);- tending from adjacent said switch mechani sm to apoint intermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said first named railstructure, a second guide shoe upon said door section co-operating withsaid switch mechanism and said last named guide rail section, a guideshoe upon the'other door section cooperating with said first named railstructure, a rail r section extending from adjacent the sill of one, toadjacent the lintel of an adjacent, door opening, adapted to permitvertical movement of the adjacent door section and to impart ahorizontal component of movement there-to during a portion of suchvertical movement, and a second shoe upon said last named door sectionco -operating with said last named rail section.

4-. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a short"rail length intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, longrail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length in substantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long rail lengths, and an oblique connecting rail. length, aswitch mechanism between the lintel of one door opening and the sill ofthe opening above, a guide railsection extending from adjacent saidswitch mechanism to a point intermediate the sill and lintel of theadjacent door opening and positioned inwardly of the shaft with relationto said other rail sections, guide shoes upon one of said door sections,co-operating respectively with said short rail length, one of said longrail lengths and one of said oblique con necting rail lengths, and withsaid switch mechanism and said last named guide rail section, a guideshoe upon said other door section comprising spaced flanges havingparallel faces adapted to co-operate with said short rail length and thelong length parallel therewith, and parallel oblique faces adapted toco-operate with one oblique connecting rail length, and a second guideshoe upon said last named door section, comprising oppositely disposedparallel flanges having the adjacent ends thereof lapped, whereby saidshoes are adapted to co-operate with the parallel and the obliqueconnecting rail lengths extending from ad jacent the sill of one, toadjacent the lintel of another, door opening, and a long rail length atan adjacent door opening.

5. A elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections, a rail-structure on each side of the openings in anelevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a short raillength intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, long raillengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail. lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adj acent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length in sub stantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and anoblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintel ofone door opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising meansforming a channel, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, guide shoes upon said door sections each co-operating with theshort rail length and with a long rail length and with an obliqueconnecting rail length of said first named rail section, a guide shoe onone of said door sections co-operating with the rail section extendingfrom adjacent the sill of one door opening to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent door opening and a long rail 'lengthlat an adjacent dooropening, and a guide shoe upon the other door section comprisingparallel spaced flanges adapted to engage the opposite walls of saidchannel forming means, and. receive between same the rail lengthterminating adjacent the end of said channel.

6, An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings in anelevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a short raillength intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, long raillengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length in substantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and anoblique connect ing rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintelof one door opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising meansforming a channel, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, guide shoes upon said door sections each co-operating with theshort rail length and with a long rail length and with an obliqueconnecting rail length of said first named rail section, a guide shoe onone or" said door sections co-operating with the rail section extendingfrom adjacent the sill of one door opening to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent door opening and a long rail length at an adjacent dooropening, and a guide shoe upon the other door section comprisingparallel spaced flanges, one of said flanges being projected laterallyof the shoe and having a curved surface forming a flaring opening forthe space between said flanges, an inclined surface and a flattened end,and the other of said flanges having a substantially flat surface, andvertically and laterally extending. curved surfaces, whereby said shoeis adapted to engage the opposite walls of said channel forming means,and

receive between same the rail length terminating ad acent the end ofsaid channel.

7. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections. a rail structure on each side of the openings in anelevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a short raillength intermediate the silland lintel ofa door openin long rail lengthsparallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft with relationthereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail section extendingfrom adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of an adjacent,door opening, including a short rail length in substantially the sameplane as said first named short rail length, a long rail length paralleltherewith and in substantially the same plane as said first named longrail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and an obliqueconnecting rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintel of onedoor opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising a guideflange adjacent the end of one of the long rail lengths of said firstnamed rail section, and an abutment between the wall of the shaft andsaid guide flange and spacedtherefrom, said guideflange and saidabutment being so formedas to provide a channel therebetween, one end ofwhich is directed and with an oblique connecting rail length of saidfirst named rail section, a guide shoe on one or" said door sectionsco-operating with the, rail section extending from adjacent the sill ofonejdoor opening to adj acent'the lintel of an adjacent door opening anda long rail length at an adjacent dooropening, and a guide shoe upon theother 7 door section comprising parallel spaced flanges, one ofsaid-flanges being projected laterally of the shoe and having a curvedsurface forming a flaring opening for the space between said flanges,aninclined surface and a flattenedend, and the other of said flangeshaving a substantially flat surface, and vertically and laterallyextending curved surfaces, whereby said shoe is adapted to engage theopposite walls of said channel forming means, and receive between samethe rail length terminating adjacent the end of said channel.

8. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings in anelevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a short raillength intermediate the sill and lintel ofa door opening, long raillengths parallel therewith-positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length 1n substantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long raillengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and anoblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintel ofonedoor opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising meansforming a channel, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacentsaid end of said channel to a'pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, guide shoes upon one of said door sections, one or" whichco-operates with the short rail length and with a long rail length andwith an oblique the short rail length and a long rail length of saidfirst named rail section, and parallel oblique faces adapted toco-operate with an oblique connecting rail length of said rail section,and a guide shoe upon the other door section comprising parallel spacedflanges, one of said flanges being projected laterally of the shoe andhaving a curved surface forming a flaring opening for the space betweensaid flanges, an inclined surface and a flattened end, and the other ofsaid flanges having a substantially flat, surface, and vertically andlaterally extending curved surfaces, whereby said shoe is adapted toengage the opposite walls of said channel forming means, and receivebetween same the rail length terminating adjacent the end of saidchannel.

9. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings in anelevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a short raillength intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, long raillengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length in substantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and anoblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintel ofone door opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising a guideflange adjacent the end of one of the long rail lengths of said firstnamed rail section, an abutment between the wall of the shaft and saidguide flange and spaced therefrom, said guide flange and said abutmentbeing so formed as to provide a channel therebetween, one end of whichis directed across said gap, and an abutment located substantiallyopposite the end of said channel be yond, and having a curved surfacepresented towards, said gap, a guide rail section extending fromadjacent said end of said channel to a point intermediate the sill andlintel of the adjacent door opening and positioned inwardly of the shaftwith relation to said other rail sections, guide shoes upon said doorsections each co-operating with the short rail length and with a longrail length and with an oblique connecting rail length of said firstnamed rail section, a guide shoe ing and a long rail length at anadjacent door opening, and a guide shoe upon the other door sectioncomprising parallel spaced flanges, one of said flanges being projectedlaterally of the shoe and having a curved surface forming a flaringopening for the space between said flanges, an inclined surface and aflattened end, and the other of said flanges having a substantially flatsurface, and vertically and laterally extending curved surfaces, wherebysaid shoe is adapted to engage the opposite walls of said channelforming means, and receive between same the rail length terminatingadjacent the end of said channel.

10. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a shortrail length intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, longrail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length in substantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and anoblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintel ofone door opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising meansforming a channel, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, guide shoes upon said door sections each co-operating with theshort rail length and with a long rail length and with an obliqueconnecting rail length of said first named rail section, a guide shoe onone of said door sections comprising oppositely disposed staggeredparallel flanges having the adjacent ends thereof lapped, whereby theparallel faces thereof are adapted to co-operate with the parallel raillengths, and the lapped ends are adapted to co-operate with the obliqueconnecting rail length of the rail section extending from adjacent thesill of one door opening to adjacent the lintel of an adjacent dooropenflanges adapted to engage the opposite walls of said channel formingmeans, and receive between same the rail length terminating adjacent theend of said channel.

11. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a shortrail length intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, longrail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly ofthe shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from' adjacent the sill of one, toadjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a short rail length in substantiallythe same plane as said first named short rail length, a long rail'lengthparallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as said firstnamed long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, and anoblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism between the lintel ofone door opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising meansform ing a channel, one end of which is directed across said gap, aguide rail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to apoint intermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, a guide shoe upon one of said door sections comprising spacedflanges having parallel faces adapted to co-operate with the short raillength and a long rail length of said first named rail section, andparallel oblique faces adapted to co-operate with an oblique connectingrail length of said first named rail section, and a second guide shoe onsaid door sections comprising oppositely disposed staggered parallelflanges having the adjacent ends thereof lapped, whereby the parallelfaces thereof are adapted to co-operate with the parallel rail lengths,and the lapped ends are adapted to cooperate with the oblique connectingrail length of the rail section extending from adjacent the sill of onedoor opening to ad jacent the lintel of an adjacent door opening and along rail length at an adjacent door opening, a guide shoe upon theother door section cooperating with the short rail length. a long raillength and an oblique connecting rail length of said firstnanied railsection, and a second uide shoe upon said door section comprisingparallel spaced flanges adapted to engage the opposite walls of saidchannel forming means, and receive between same the rail lengthterminating adjacent the end of said channel.

12. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft including therein a rail section comprising a shortrail length intermediate the sill and lintel of a door opening, longrail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the-sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, including a'short rail length in substantiallythe same:- plane as said first named short rail length, a long raillength parallel therewith and in substantially the same plane as saidfirst named long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form a gap, andoblique connecting rail length, a' switch mechanism between the lintelof one door opening and the sill of the opening above, comprising meansforming a channel, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of toe adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly ofthe shaftwith relation tosaid other rail sections,guide shoes uponsaid I door sections each comprising spaced flangeshaving parallel faces adapted to co-operate with the short rail length,and with a long parallel rail length, and parallel oblique faces adaptedto co-operate with an oblique connecting rail length of said first namedrail section, a guide shoe on one of said door sections comprisingoppositely disposed staggered parallel flanges having the adjacent endsthereof lapped, whereby the parallel ,faces, thereof are adapted tocooperate with the'parallel rail lengths, and the lapped ends areadapted to co-operate with the oblique connecting rail length of therail section extending from adjacent the sill of one door opening toadjacent the lintel of an adjacent door opening and a long rail lengthat an adjacent door opening, and a guide shoe upon the other doorsection comprising parallel spaced flanges adapted to engagethe'opposite walls of said channel formingineans, and receive betweensome the rail len th terminating adjacent .the end of said channel.

upper lower oppositely movable door sections, a rail structure on eachside of the openings in an elevator shaft including therein a railsection comprising a short rail length intermediate the sill and lintelof a door opening, long rail lengths parallel therewithpositionedinwardly of the shaft with relation thereto, and oblique adjacent thelintel of an adjacent, door opening, including a short rail length insubstantially the same plane as said first 13. An elevator doorembodying therein 3 connecting rail lengths, a rail section ex tendingfrom fi-ClJZLCGllt the sill of one, to

named short rail length, a long rail length parallel therewith and insubstantially the same plane as said first named long rail lengths, butspaced therefrom to form a gap, and an oblique connecting rail length, aswitch mechanism between the lintel of one door opening and the sill ofthe opening above, comprising a guide flange adjacent the end of one ofthe long rail lengths of said first named rail section, and an abutmentbetween the wall of the shaft and said guide flange and spacedtherefrom, said guide flange and said abutment being so formed as toprovide a channel therebetween, one end of which is directed, acrosssaid gap, a guide rail section extending from adjacent said end of saidchannel to a point intermediate the sill and' lintel of the adjacentdoor opening and positioned inwardly of tions each comprising spacedflanges hav ing parallel faces adapted to co-operate with the short raillength and with a long parallel rail length, and parallel oblique facesadapted'to co-operate with an oblique connecting rail length of saidfirst named rail section, a second guide shoe on one of said doorsections comprising oppositely disposed staggered parallel flangeshaving the adjacent endsEthereo-f lapped, whereby the parallel facesthereof are adapted to co-operate with the parallel rail length, and thelapped ends are adapted to co-operate with the oblique connecting'raillength of the rail section extending from adjacent the sill of one dooropening to adjacent the lintel" of an adjacent door opening, and a longrail length at an adjacent door opening, and a guide shoe upon the otherdoor section com prising parallel spaced flanges, one of said flangesbeing projected laterally of the shoe and having a curved surfaceforming a flaring opening for the space between said flanges, aninclined surface and a flattened end, and the other of said flangeshaving a substantially flat surface,'and vertically and laterallyextending curved surfaces; whereby said shoe is adapted to engage theopposite walls of said channel forming means, and receive between samethe rail length terminating. adjacent the end of said channel.

14:. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft including therein a'rail section comprising a shortrail length intermediate the sill and lint-e1 of a door opening, longrail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door ineiacie opening, including a: short rail length insubstantially the same plane as said first named short rail length, along rail length parallel therewith and in substantially the same planeas said first named long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form agap, and an oblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism betweenthe lintel of one door opening and the sill of the opening above,comprising a guide flange adjacent the end of one of the long raillengths of said first named rail section, and an abut ment betweenthe'wall of the shaft and said guide flange and spaced therefrom, saidguide flange and said abutment being so termed as to provide a channelthere between, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, said abutment, said guide flange and the ends of the variousrail lengths adjacent thereto being integrally formed in a metalcasting, guide shoes upon said door sections each cooperating with theshort rail length and with a long rail length and with an obliqueconnecting rail length of said first named rail section, a guide shoe onone of said door sections co-operating with the rail section extendingfrom adjacent the sill of one door opening to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent door opening and a long rail length at an adjacent dooropening, and a guide shoe upon the other door section comprisingparallel spaced flanges, one of said flanges being projected laterallyof the shoe and having a curved surface forming a flaring opening forthe space between said flanges, an inclined surface and a flattenedenchand the other of said flanges having a substantially flat surface,and vertically and laterally extending curved surfaces, whereby saidshoe is adapted to engage the opposite walls of said channel formingmeans, and receive between same the rail length terminating adjacent theend of said channel.

15. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft. each consisting of a wall angle extending verticallyof the shaft and having secured thereto a rail section including thereina short rail length intermediate the sill and lint'el of the dooropening, long rail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly oi theshaft with relation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a railsection extending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintelof an adjacent, door opening, a switch mechanism, and aguide railsection extending from adjacent said switch mechanism to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of an adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsection, means carried by each of said door sections projecting acrossthe edges of said wall angle, and across said rail sections and saidswitch mechanism respectively, flexible connections between said meansrespectively, sheaves about which said flexible connections pass, theaxes of said sheaves being parallel with the wall of the shaft adjacentthe door opening, said wall angle adjacent the short and the ob liquerail lengths of said'first named rail section being cut away to permitmovement of said means adjacent saidv'rail lengths, guide shoes adjacentthe top of the lower, and adjacent the bottom of the upper, doorsections co-operating with said first named rail section. a second guideshoe upon one of said sections co-operating with the rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, and a second guide shoe upon the other doorsection co-operating with said switch mechanism and with the railsection adjacent thereto.

16. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower. oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft, each consisting of a wall angle extending verticallyof the shaft and havingsecured thereto a rail section including thereina short rail length intermediate the sill and lintel of the dooropening, long rail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of theshaft with relation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a railsection extending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintelof an adjacent, door opening, a switch mechanism, and a guide railsection extending from adjacent said switch mechanism to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of an adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsection, means carried by each of said door sections projecting acrossthe edges of said wall angle, and across said rail sec tions and saidswitch mechanism respectively, flexible connections between said meansrespectively, sheaves about which said flexible connections pass, theaxes of said sheaves being parallel with the wall of the shaft adjacentthe door opening, said wall angle ad jacent the short and the obliquerail lengths of said first named rail section being cut away to permitmovement of said means adj acent said rail lengths, guide shoes adjacentthe top of the lower, and adjacent the bottom of the upper, doorsections co-operating with said first named rail section, a second guideshoe upon one of said sections co -operating with the rail sectionextending from. adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent, door opening, a second guide shoe upon the other doorsectionco-operating with said switch mechanism and with the rail section adjacent thereto, stops carried by said wall angle in the path ofmovement of the means carried by the lower door section, and a truck barcarried by the top of said lower door section and projecting through thedoor opening when a door. is closed.

17. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositelymovable door sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings inan elevator shaft, each consisting of a wall angle extending verticallyof the shaft and'having secured thereto a rail section including thereina short rail length intermediate the sill and lintel of the dooropening, long rail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of theshaft with relation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a railsection extending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintelof an adjacent, door opening, including a short rail length insubstantially the same plane as said first named short rail length, along rail length parallel therewith and in substantially the same. planeassaid first named long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form agap, and an oblique connectingrail length, a switch mechanism betweenthe lintel of one door opening and the sill of the opening above,comprising a guide flange adjacent the end of one of the long raillengths of said first named railsection, and an abutment be tween thewall of the shaft and'said guide flange and spaced therefrom, said guideflange and said abutment being so formed as toprovide a channeltherebetween. one end 7 of which is directed across said gap, a guiderail section extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door opening andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections, means carried by each of said door sections projecting acrossthe edges of said wall angle, and across said rail sections and saidswitch mechanism respectively, flexible connections between said meansrespectively, sheaves about which said flexible connections pass, theaxes of said sheaves being parallel with the wall of the shaft adjacentthe door opening, said wall angle adjacent the short and the obliquerail lengths of said first named rail section being cut away topermitmovement of said means adjacent said rail lengths, guide shoesuponsaid door sections each comprising spaced flanges having parallel facesadapted to cooperate with the short rail length and with a long parallelrail length, and parallel oblique faces adapted to co-operate with anoblique connecting rail length of said first named rail section, asecond guide shoe on one of said door sections comprising oppositelydisposed staggered parallel flanges having the adjacent ends thereoflapped, whereby the parallel faces thereof are adapted to co-operatewith the parallel rail length, and the lapped ends are adapted toco-operate with the oblique connecting rail length of the rail sectionextending from adjacent the sill of one door opening to adjacent thelintel of an adjacent door opening, and a long rail length at anadjacent door opening, and a guide shoe upon the other door sectioncomprising parallel spaced flanges, one of said flanges being projectedlaterally of the shoe and having a curved surface forming a flaringopening for the space between said flanges, an inclined surface and aflattened end, and the other of said flanges having a substantially flatsurface, and vertically and laterally extending curved surfaces, wherebysaid shoe is adapted to engage the opposite walls of said channelforming means, and receive between same the rail length terminatingadjacent the end of said channel.

18. Anelevator door embodying therein upper and lower oppositely movabledoor sections, a rail structure on each side of the openings in anelevator shaft, each consisting of a wall angle extending vertically ofthe shaft and having secured thereto a rail section including therein ashort rail length intermediate the sill and lintel of the door opening,long rail lengths parallel therewith positioned inwardly of the shaftwith relation thereto, and oblique connecting rail lengths, a railsection extending from adjacent the sill of one, to adjacent the lintelof an adjacent, door opening, including a short rail length insubstantially the same plane as said first named short rail length, along rail length parallel therewith and in substantially the same planeas said first named long rail lengths, but spaced therefrom to form agap, and an oblique connecting rail length, a switch mechanism betweenthe lintel of one door opening and the sill of the opening above,comprising a guide flange adjacent the end of one of the long raillengths of said first named rail section, and an abutment between thevall of the shaft and said guide flange and spaced therefron, said guideflange and said abutment being so formed as to provide a channeltherebetween, one end of which is directed across said gap, a guide railsection extending from adjacent said end of said channel to a pointintermediate the sill and lintel of the adjacent door open ing andpositioned inwardly of the shaft with relation to said other railsections,

switch mechanism respectively, flexible connections between said meansrespectively, sheaves about which said flexible connections pass, theaxes of said sheaves being parallel with the wall of the shaft adjacentthe door opening, said wall angle adjacent the short and the obliquerail lengths of said first named rail section being cut away to permitmovement of said means adjacent said rail lengths, guide shoes upon saiddoor sections each comprising spaced flanges having parallel facesadapted to co-operate with the short rail length and with a longparallel rail length, and parallel oblique faces adapted to co-operatewith an oblique connecting rail length of said first named rail section,a second guide shoe on one of said door sections comprising oppositelydisposed staggered parallel flanges having the adjacent ends thereoflapped, whereby the parallel facesthereof are adapted to cooperate withthe parallel rail length, and the lapped ends are adapted to co-operatewith the oblique connecting rail length of the rail section extendingfrom adjacent the sill of one door opening to adjacent the lintel of anadjacent door opening. and a long rail length at an adjacent dooropening, a guide shoe upon the other door section comprising parallelspaced flanges, one of said flanges being projected laterally of theshoe and having a curved surface forming a flaring opening for the spacebetween said flanges, an inclined surface and a flattened end. and theother of said flanges having a substantially flat surface. andvertically and laterally extending curved surfaces whereby said shoe isadapted to engage the opposite walls of said channel forming means. andreceive between same the rail length terminating adjacent the end ofsaid channel. stops carried by said wall angle in the path of movementof the means carried by the lower door section, and a truck bar carriedby the top of said lower door section and projecting through the dooropening when a door is closed. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of December, 1922.

ROBERT S. PEELLE.

Witnesses FRIEDA KOEHLER, SOPHIE M. BAEDER.

